Writer's Digest Presents

New year, new goals! With the start of the new year, people across the world have stated new resolutions and goals for themselves. Writers are no different, and often we set lofty goals at the start of the year in the hopes that they come to fruition by the end of the year. We want to help you on the right track by looking back at some of the best writing advice we received from authors, editors, and publishing experts last year.

How to write a dramedy is more than simply mixing jokes with the tear-jerking moments. Combining comedy and drama is a tight-rope act that, if done wrong, can lead to tonal disparity within your story. But done right and you'll have your readers going from crying to laughing (and crying laughing) page after page.

Editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with bestselling author Byron Lane (A Star Is Bored, Big Gay Wedding) to chat all about how to write a dramedy.

Do you know how to self-edit your novel? If your answer is "no," you're not alone. While creative writers know a thing or two about building worlds and imagination, self-editing our work—and editing in general—is an art form we don't spend enough time understanding.

In this episode of "Writer's Digest Presents," content editor Michael Woodson sits down with professional editor, author, and instructor Tiffany Yates Martin to discuss self-editing, how to self-editing your novel, when to seek outside advice, and more.

Writers: curious about how to combine genres? Want to know what it's like to incorporate elements of mystery, science fiction, espionage, and romance? Look no further than the curious mind of author Rob Hart. In this interview with Writer's Digest, editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with Rob to discuss his newest novel, The Paradox Hotel, why combining genres means you get to break all the rules, and more.

AI has infiltrated the creative process, with ChatGPT and other platforms making writing "easier." But the sinister side of this technology has led artificial intelligence down the road of plagiarism, and even identity theft—stealing the likeness of an author and using their name to profit off of work they didn't actually write.

Author and instructor Jane Friedman joins content editor Michael Woodson for a discussion about AI, about her recent experience with AI stealing her name to profit on work she didn't write, and what writers can do to safeguard themselves and their writing.

You ever have that experience reading a book where you think it's about one thing, and then slowly it starts to reveal that it's actually about something else? We call this "misdirection," a narrative device that allows writers to write the story they want to write while allowing an undercurrent of what the story is "actually about."

In this conversation with editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with author Lydia Kiesling about how to intentionally misdirect your readers, writing about climate change in realistic fiction, and her new novel Mobility, available in bookstores August 1.

Every summer, the Writer's Digest team heads to New York City for the Annual Writing Conference—three full days of writing advice, keynote sessions, and more (including an opportunity to pitch your story to agents!)

Here, editor-in-chief Amy Jones, senior editor Robert Lee Brewer, and content editor Michael Woodson chat with author and instructor Ryan G. Van Cleave about the Writer's Digest Annual Conference, why you should attend, and more!

To register for the annual conference, click here: https://writersdigestconference.com/register/

What is fan fiction? Is there a difference between fan fiction, retellings, and reimaginings? What makes us categorize them as being similar?

In the latest episode of "Writer's Digest Presents," the WD editors tackle this topic by talking about each of these types of writing separately, while also seeing how they can serve one another—like different branches of the same tree.

Then, stick around for a conversation with managing editor Moriah Richard and fan-fiction author Spoons!

Book recommendations with links for where to purchase:

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Boy Snow Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow

Lost in the Never Woods by Aidan Thomas

Ben & Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

Saturday by Ian McEwan

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In our latest book club discussion, editor-in-chief Amy Jones and content editor Michael Woodson sit down for a chat with author Cherie Dimaline about her newest novel, VenCo. Listen as they discuss witchy women, charismatic consumerism, and writing hot villains.

Editor-in-chief Amy Jones, senior editor Robert Lee Brewer, and content editor Michael Woodson sit down with Writer's Digest University's content director Sarah Hall to discuss romance novels. Why do we love romance novels, and why should all writers read romance? Listen and learn now!